Difference Between Wireless and Bluetooth
In simple terms, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both wireless communication methods, but the main difference between them lies in their intended purposes, distance and usage.
The main distinction is that Bluetooth is mainly utilized for connecting devices wirelessly, whereas Wi-Fi offers high-speed internet access.
What Is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard used to exchange data over short distances (less than 30 feet), typically between personal mobile devices. This implies that a Bluetooth-enabled device like a smartphone can interact with other Bluetooth devices, such as a wireless headset, MP3 player, or printer.
Bluetooth functions similar to a cord between the devices, establishing a secure, wireless personal area network for communication. In addition to personal mobile devices, Bluetooth technology is also commonly used in various other applications, such as in-car systems, smart home devices, and wearable technology. Its versatility and ease of use have made it a popular choice for connecting different gadgets seamlessly. With the ability to support multiple connections simultaneously, Bluetooth has become an integral part of modern communication and connectivity.
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Bluetooth has a wide variety of applications and has boosted the convenience and functionality of portable devices by providing a simple way for them to interact with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Bluetooth is considered a proprietary protocol because device manufacturers must license several patents to make and market a Bluetooth device.
What Is WI-FI?
Wi-Fi has some similar applications to Bluetooth, such as setting up a network or printing and transferring files.
It is also a wireless standard, but rather than being designed to communicate between devices, it serves to wirelessly connect devices to the internet or Ethernet networks such as a corporate local area network (LAN). Its range is quite a bit larger than the very short range within which Bluetooth devices communicate, as a Wi-Fi signal can be accessed up to 300 feet away.
This means that a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a PC or smartphone, can connect to the internet wirelessly when in a Wi-Fi “hotspot,” or area in which a Wi-Fi signal may be accessed.
This hotspot can be a small area such as a single room or may cover several miles if hotspots are allowed to overlap.
Wi-Fi is a trademark name used to refer to devices that employ IEEE 802.11 standards. Product manufacturers must complete Wi-Fi interoperability certification testing, as conducted by the Wi-Fi Alliance, to label devices as Wi-Fi devices.
Wi-Fi is available on most devices, and Wi-Fi hotspots continue to proliferate across companies, university campuses, restaurants, airports, and other public locations.
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